from washington, the "the mclaughlin group," the american originals. for over two decades, the sharpest minds, bested sources, hardest talk. o'donnell express. >> ladies and gentlemen, the people of delaware have spoken! [cheering] no more politics as usual! >> christine o'donnell searched a victory in thursday's u.s. senate republican primary in delaware. she now faces the general election 40 days from now. o'donnell is single, 42 years old with a background in public relations. previously she sought the republican nomination for u.s.

senate during the 2006 primaries. four years ago. and she lost. in 2008, two years ago, she gained the uncontested republican nomination for the u.s. senate in the general election, challenging city senator joe biden. biden won by 457,000 to o'donnell's 140,000. biden outspent o'donnell $4.9 million, to o'donnell's $116,000. nearly 32 times 2 times bigger o'donnell's budget. her opponent for the 2010 republican primary for the u.s. senate was michael castle, a nine-and former two-term governor of delaware. >> don't ever understint the power of we, the people. >> two months ago she had no money, no campaign, and many believed in no chance. with a 23% approval rating, she looked like a long shot against the household name of michael castle.

but the palin endorsement led to a $600,000 pledge to the o'donnell campaign by the tea party. even after her victory, last tuesday, republican leaders are still staying away from the nominee. the defeated michael castle refuses to endorse her candidacy. also castle's website on wednesday described o'donnell as "untrustworthy and unfit for offers." as we go into the homestretch to the general election, a new poll shows candidate chris kuntz leading his opponent, republican candidate o'donnell, 53% to o'donnell's 42%. question, true or false -- christine o'donnell has a better than fighting chance to beat her opponent, chris kuntz, seeking the united states senate seat from delaware this election? >> are you dead-on, john. the day after her domination, she got one million dollars in,

the tea party on the line for -- sarah palin, they're all i'm sure going to be going in, forces will be in there. it will be a great contest. there's no doubt she's down, but she's only down 10 points now. she got 35% against joe biden when he's running for president. and senator. it can be -- excuse me, vice president. but it can be done but it will go -- it will be a hard uphill battle. but i think they can do it. the neoconservatives and karl rove and mike castle are cutting their throats with what >> why this rove trash her? >> i don't know why he did. first of all, rile tell you why, because it destroyed the grand plan where we give you the people, you nominate. what the tea party is saying is, you don't tell us who our candidates are going to be. we will pick 'em and we'll reject yours if we want tom. >> alan, o'donnell self- destructs. >> let's get a grip here.

she's one won a close republican primary, a 10th of the state's population in a third of republican voters, and she won by 53-46. and the mike castle voters, i don't think he's ever been called a nee con before. -- neocon. he's a very popular former governor. she is unlikely to win, which is not to say she must be taken seriously because all the money will pour in from the tea party patriots, and various groups who want to see her succeed. but i'm with karl rove on this one. he called her nutty. she is putting a face on the republican party that is very extreme, and she's shaping not only the mid-term elections but she's shaping the 2012 elections. and the way you is tell is this season romney endorsed her immediately. >> and gave her what?

>> $5,000. >> right on, mitt. >> because he's pandering to the right. we'll see them all do what john mccain did to try to of course -- the party's right now, fringe. >> let me give a gloss on what you had to say. this is not a rejection of your view. there are 282,000 registered democrats in delaware. okay? she's refocused. our combined 328,000 independents and republicans. >> yep. >> if she pulls a majority of independents and republicans, she could beat kuntz. >> absolutely. and when you look at kuntz' blew states that have already held general elections over the last year and a half, whether it's new jersey, whether it's massachusetts, you've got a purple state virginia that also voted. they all voted in republicans as governors. and in the u.s. senate scott brown. why? because these candidates are speaking directly to the immediate concerns. american people. they want limited government.

they want government to stop growing, and stop spending. they want a lower tax burden and they want their individual freedom back. i can understand why the left would think that's a radical agenda, but that's where most of the american people are. and it's completely within christine o'donnell's power to pull this off. she's got now the g.o.p. establishment and by the way, the republican establishment ought to be ashamed of themselves, they have disgraced themselves in their smear campaign against this woman. now they're starting to close ranks. but listen, the only reason you have a tea party movement in america today, which is now mainstream america, no longer a move. are is because the g.o.p. establishment, because for years they went down the road of being democrat light, big spending, big government programs, and not just the republican base, but a lot of independents are fed up to here, we're a nation of howard beal's, we're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. >> the republican -- >> scott brown, and all of these other republicans who can

now win in blue states. >> what do you think what she's saying? the republicans became bloodless. they lost their allegiance and they tried to mimic democrats. >> well,. >> and she's returning us to the fold. returning the republicans to the fold. >> you've got -- >> the democrats, the democrats said that -- sorry, the establishment republicans said marco rubio couldn't win in florida and they were wrong. they were saying rand paul couldn't win in kentucky and they were wrong, where they thought guys when were too conservative to win. i will say this about o'donnell -- she does have a past record of problems with where she might not have been telling the truth, problems with personal integrity. it's not for her being too conservative or outspoken. >> what are you talking about? >> talked about whether she graduated from princeton while she only took -- >> she went to -- >> she did claim that [everyone talking at once] >> you can't bump her in with chris christie and scott brown

in terms of her -- in -- and what are these -- individual free drops that she's going to get back for us and the collective j that you use? she won a small portion of an electorate. and traveling now. >> we haven't said anything about the weaknesses of kuntz, declared himself to be a mo an elected official. >> he's a county official right now. and he's in a position of authority. and he raised a budget over there 28%. that's what it cost -- [everyone talking at once] >> republican establishment -- >> the o'donnell campaign. >> we're just looking at the -- look, it's taking place and toomey is qzí

o'donnell wins? >> i think she does. >> o'donnell doesn't win, no. >> o'donnell loses. >> yes. i'm with karl rove again on this one. mike castle would have handed that vote to the republicans. not against public servants. this woman does not have -- >> which is it? >> i'm not sure. but i hope this will -- continues to dismiss the tea

party movement and all candidates rand paul, mark joe rubio, christine o'donnell, because the power of this movement is beyond belief now. and it's mainstream america, and you know how you know it's really powerful, is because the left continues to try to smear these candidates and dismiss them out of hand and call them extremists. when the democratic party has been hijacked and taken to country -- >> that's your prediction. it's a win for her? all right. hold on. [everyone talking at once] >> i was asked for my opinion. i'm not smearing a candidate. that's my opinion. >> the o'donnell has the -- she can win if i were to bet. >> will she win or won't she? >> i would say no, but conservatives exactly. >> right on. >> yep. >> what did mike castle do that was -- >> okay, that's -- >> voted against. >> all right. this is a cultural revolution.

raising its head. >> has she been a gracious -- at all? >> why did they -- can you answer that, pat? why did she pull everything off their website? everything off her website? >> yes, she pulled it all off? told him he should put on his man pants! >> maybe he should have! >> who said that? >> christine o'donnell -- allowed to insult people. [laughing] >> come on, it's politics. grow up! >> so you have -- >> yes, she will win? >> i just said no. >> yes or no, as you see it now. >> i think she loses by about 3 or 4 point. >> you do? >> you may -- you're putting me on the spot. but again, i'm not that upset. >> not a smear. >> i think that she's going to win because i think what kuntz brings to the table is not

going to do -- that much for him. when we come back, democratic party leader barack obama wants higher taxes on both high earners and small business owners. will obama get the true congress? the forecast is full of ifs. retirement these days, if i'm too exposed to downturns. if i'll go through my savings too fast. to help you feel more confident consider putting a portion of your savings in a metlife variable annuity. when the market goes up, it gives your assets a potential to grow. while protecting you if the market goes down with a steady stream of income. metlife annuities have helped over a million people stay on course with guarantees for the if in life. get answers about annuities at metlife.com.

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issue two, tax cuts. nine years ago, june 2001, just four months after taking office, the bush-cheney administration introduced sweeping revisions of the u.s. income tax rate. congress approved the cuts on may 26, 2001. the new law cut the income taxes for all americans and all tax brackets. 15 to 10, 28 to 25, 31 to 28, 36 to 33, and 39.6 to 35%.

okay. fast-forward to new year's day, january 1, 2011, next year, three months from now! the tax cuts are set to expire under a sunset provision as the original 2001 legislation dictated. president obama does not want the sunset. he wants to keep the bush- cheney tax cuts in place, except for two brackets -- the brackets for the money class of society. >> the wealthiest americans who disproportionately benefitted note only from tax cuts from the bausch and bush administration but also benefitted when it comes to corporate profits and where the gains and productivity were going, they're going to give up a little more. >> just this week, senate republican leader mitch mcconnell introduced a bill that would keep in place bush- cheney tax policy. republicans in the senate have vowed to block any change by president obama on the tax bracket now in force for the

big earners and big investors currently and paying 33% and 35%, which obama wants to put back to 36% and 39.6%. question, are the democrats going to increase taxes on the high earners during a recession? >> no, they will not. despite the fact that president obama has driven a stake in the ground, nancy pelosi has said no, they're very averse to raising taxes or letting all of the bush tax cuts expire. there are enough democrats now by my last count, five democratic , you've got 31 house democrats who have written to the house leadership saying please don't allow all of the bush tax cuts to expire. i mean, let's extend them. and so now have to debate on the democratic side because honest democrats or at least those who are very fearful for their political lives will tell you that you cannot raise taxes in the middle a recession and expect job creation and economic growth.

>> these tax cuts were assessed sunset because we can't afford them beyond a certain point and if were looking at it interest a deficit cutting viewpoint, would you let them all lapse as they were designed to do. but the president is successfully rebranding them as the obama middle-class tax cuts, and you had -- >> very funny! >> i don't think that's funny. >> well then -- >> excuse me! [everyone talking at once] >> and i don't think the house leader john boehner is silly either. and he recognizes there's power in this issue. it's one issue what boehner says. here's boehner on the tax cuts. >> if the only option i have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, i'll vote for them. but i've been making the point now for months that we need to extend all the current rates for all americans if we want to get our want to get jobs in ame

>> real tactical mistake. he gave way the back position. came to a dead end and you get nothing or some tax cuts would take some. but that was a mistake. >> why was it a mistake? i don't get it. >> because a lot of democrats will say -- >> if boehner can take the tax hikes for the rich, the democrats will say we've got cover behind john boehner. but now the republicans are back on all or nothing at all. >> he had to take care of the straying republicans who want to vote with the democrats. >> there aren't any. >> well, there aren't any. that's one thing boehner has done well and mitch mccobble has one it well in the senate, the democrats, and what i want to know is if we're letting about letting the bush tax cuts expire, why not let the bush spending hikes expire? >> right. >> if we're worried about defer sits there's got to be -- you think every dime that bush increased spending was worth it? >> you could go out and make that case, but that isn't what

the politicians are talking about. what they're talking about is holding the middle-class tax cuts hostage -- warfare is when we burn down your houses! this is reality! >> that's threatening, eleanor! >> tiny majority has done very well and they're going to do just fine under the rates that were in place when president clinton -- >> who is peter -- >> the former budget director. >> he is opposed to this action. >> he suggested a compromise of extending all the tax cuts for two years and not letting them well -- >> he's saying stall a momentum of the recovery now going on. >> he is right, john? that did not generate jobs. they were in place eight years under bush, and bush was a -- decade. he 4 a net decrease in jobs. you cannot say -- [everyone talking at once] >> all right, let her answer.

>> after the bush tax cuts you had 53 consecutive months of job creation and economic growth. that's why is trying to rebrand it as obama tax cuts, because they all know that in fact bush was right and they worked. you can't raise taxes on the higher end! >> you're talking about raising them on small businesses, small business profits, capital begins and dividends, and what you're talking about there are the engine that creates 70% of all new job growth. >> you understand that all of these actions are geared to the election of about five weeks from now. and now -- >> who does he want to galvanize by this actions? >> i think a lot of these actions are geared towards the election two years from now. >> let's talk about obama -- >> she wants a turnout of the liberal democrats -- >> i think it's better -- >> and they love this kind of -- >> john -- raising the taxes on the wealthy. >> all the republicans are seeing polls in their districts and at least the even if you're not in the upper bracket -- i

don't think the tax increases. >> this could go to a lame duck session. a lot of these guys want to get home in a week or two. they might say we didn't get this done, then the clock is ticking. all these taxes go back into effect january 1. and you get congress back. defeat democrats will then vote with obama because that's the only way they'll get jobs. >> re-election will put the government -- >> it would be going into the teeth of polls that show the majority of american people do not want to create another giant deficit by rewarding people who really don't need it -- combined with the appointment of elizabeth warren who will put a face on obama. >> don't you think the american people hate class warfare? and this is an example of it! is this an example? is it also an undermining of the capitalistic? the market economy! >> the american people are worried about the deficit, and it balloons the deficit. if you reward people -- [everyone talking at once] >> answer the question, was the

mid-term elections six weeks away, smart politics or dumb politics to make the bush- cheney tax cuts permanent? >> it is smart politics, john. and i think it is going to happen. and people can tell you that are the democrats whose lives are at stake. >> you mean he doesn't have the democratic -- congress to pass it? >> the fact that democrats are -- >> more politics to frame it has holding middle-class tax cuts to reward the rich. >> it's smart politics and smart economics. nobody ever got a job from a poor man, they got a job from a rich man. in order for the wealthiest and small businesses to create the jobs we need, you've got to give them the certainty and the economic growth. >> this is breeding lass war pairer fair, yes or no. >> yes, and i think there's good class warfare the republicans can do. the democrats are standing behind the bailout. >> fight fire with fire? >> yes. say we want to keep taxes low, the democrats are behind>> what

>> is -- >> i think it's bad politics. i think you should stay with a with anything that has any taint of class war pair. we'll be right back with predictions. somewhere in america, there's a doctor who can peer into the future. there's a nurse who can access in an instant every patient's past. and because the whole hospital's working together, there's a family who can breathe easy, right now. somewhere in america, we've already answered some of the nation's toughest healthcare questions. and the over 60,000 people of siemens are ready to do it again. siemens. answers.

man: i'm over 50. even though i didn't have symptoms... woman: ...i got tested for colon cancer. man: this is one cancer you can prevent. woman: so if you're over 50... ...talk with your doctor... ...and get tested. announcer: screening saves lives. there are times republicans take over the senate. >> pat? >> three. >> three. >> 6.5. >> 2. >> 4. >> bye-bye!